For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
The kingdom has split in two, and King Rehoboam is angry. He wants to fight to get it all back. But God has a different plan.
Today's Story
King Rehoboam was upset. Half of his kingdom had walked away! So he gathered a huge army — thousands and thousands of soldiers — ready to fight and take it all back.
But then God sent a message through a man named Shemaiah. “This is what the LORD says,” he told them. “Do not go up to fight against your own brothers. Each of you, go back home. This is what I wanted to happen.”
That was a hard thing to hear when you are all ready for a fight! But Rehoboam and his soldiers listened to God. They put down their swords and went home. They obeyed.
Instead of fighting, Rehoboam got busy. He built strong cities to keep his people safe. And something wonderful happened: all the people who really loved God — the priests and the temple helpers and many others — came and joined him. They wanted to be where God was worshiped.
For a while, the kingdom grew strong, because the people were walking close to God.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Have you ever really wanted to fight back, but knew the right thing was to walk away? What happened?
- God told the soldiers to go home instead of fighting their brothers. Why do you think God didn't want them to fight?
- The people who loved God came to be where He was worshiped. What is one way our family stays close to God?